Volunteers: The heart of our community

David CookBe Our Guest

Published: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 6:55 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 6:55 a.m.

During my 45 years of service as a social worker, it has been my distinct honor to be associated with volunteers in military, academic and mental health settings — and now faith-based crisis services through Interfaith Assistance Ministry.

What I have seen through these many years confirms studies summarized in a Mayo Clinic Health Letter suggesting that adults who get involved in their communities through volunteerism live longer than their contemporaries who don’t. A poll by Spirituality and Health magazine indicated that face-to-face volunteer work relieves stress and equips people to cope more effectively with life’s many challenges, both physical and emotional.

In addition, our volunteers at Interfaith tell me they have made new friendships and that their lives have been immensely enriched through the hours they spend helping Henderson County families and individuals in financial crisis. Yet, while the work is clearly rewarding for the volunteers themselves, it is, of course, the needy in our community who benefit most from the high degree of volunteerism we enjoy here.

Some time ago, Henry Johnson, former United Way director, did research that showed how our community would be devastated without its many hundreds of volunteers.

He found that our emergency response capability would be reduced by 60 percent; victim assistance/follow-up and the overall security of our neighborhoods would be seriously degraded; the county would have to spend approximately $250,000 to do the work 70 Sheriff “VIP” now do; there would be 45 fewer ATV volunteers to help with search and rescue operations; there would be less security at area ball games; area congregation fundraising for charities would be decimated; patient care support services at our area hospitals would have to be eliminated or replaced with paid workers, possibly increasing health care costs; the American Red Cross would not be able to respond as effectively to local emergencies and family disasters, and the number of local residents who receive CPR/ first aid training would be cut in half.

My own research reveals that 205 older residents would not get their meals through Meals on Wheels and 35 would not be fed at the Sammy Williams Center through the Council on Aging. In addition, without The Free Clinic’s Medi-Find program, 443 residents would have to find a way to pay for $1,187,206 in annual medication costs. Interfaith Assistance Ministry would have to close if it couldn’t find a way to pay 20 additional full-time staff members a total of $908,168 to do the work that 270 volunteers did for IAM last year.

Also, other nonprofit crisis response agencies, such as the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, Mainstay, The Healing Place, the Salvation Army, The Storehouse and other area food pantries would have to close or greatly reduce the services they provide. These are just some examples of how critical volunteer support is to our community, and there are many, many more.

On behalf of my human service and health care provider colleagues, our supporting business community partners and congregations, and the many local residents who benefit so greatly from your precious gifts of time and service, we salute all our local volunteers and extend to you our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. You do so much to make this a caring community.

As actor Edward James Olmos once said, “What volunteers bring is the human touch, the individual, caring approach that no government program, however well-meaning and well-executed, can deliver.” Amen to that!

David Cook is executive director of Interfaith Assistance Ministry, a faithbased, nonprofit organization providing crisis assistance to Henderson County residents since 1984.

<p>During my 45 years of service as a social worker, it has been my distinct honor to be associated with volunteers in military, academic and mental health settings — and now faith-based crisis services through Interfaith Assistance Ministry.</p><p>What I have seen through these many years confirms studies summarized in a Mayo Clinic Health Letter suggesting that adults who get involved in their communities through volunteerism live longer than their contemporaries who don't. A poll by Spirituality and Health magazine indicated that face-to-face volunteer work relieves stress and equips people to cope more effectively with life's many challenges, both physical and emotional.</p><p>In addition, our volunteers at Interfaith tell me they have made new friendships and that their lives have been immensely enriched through the hours they spend helping Henderson County families and individuals in financial crisis. Yet, while the work is clearly rewarding for the volunteers themselves, it is, of course, the needy in our community who benefit most from the high degree of volunteerism we enjoy here.</p><p>Some time ago, Henry Johnson, former United Way director, did research that showed how our community would be devastated without its many hundreds of volunteers.</p><p>He found that our emergency response capability would be reduced by 60 percent; victim assistance/follow-up and the overall security of our neighborhoods would be seriously degraded; the county would have to spend approximately $250,000 to do the work 70 Sheriff “VIP” now do; there would be 45 fewer ATV volunteers to help with search and rescue operations; there would be less security at area ball games; area congregation fundraising for charities would be decimated; patient care support services at our area hospitals would have to be eliminated or replaced with paid workers, possibly increasing health care costs; the American Red Cross would not be able to respond as effectively to local emergencies and family disasters, and the number of local residents who receive CPR/ first aid training would be cut in half.</p><p>My own research reveals that 205 older residents would not get their meals through Meals on Wheels and 35 would not be fed at the Sammy Williams Center through the Council on Aging. In addition, without The Free Clinic's Medi-Find program, 443 residents would have to find a way to pay for $1,187,206 in annual medication costs. Interfaith Assistance Ministry would have to close if it couldn't find a way to pay 20 additional full-time staff members a total of $908,168 to do the work that 270 volunteers did for IAM last year.</p><p>Also, other nonprofit crisis response agencies, such as the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, Mainstay, The Healing Place, the Salvation Army, The Storehouse and other area food pantries would have to close or greatly reduce the services they provide. These are just some examples of how critical volunteer support is to our community, and there are many, many more.</p><p>On behalf of my human service and health care provider colleagues, our supporting business community partners and congregations, and the many local residents who benefit so greatly from your precious gifts of time and service, we salute all our local volunteers and extend to you our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. You do so much to make this a caring community.</p><p>As actor Edward James Olmos once said, “What volunteers bring is the human touch, the individual, caring approach that no government program, however well-meaning and well-executed, can deliver.” Amen to that! </p><p>David Cook is executive director of Interfaith Assistance Ministry, a faithbased, nonprofit organization providing crisis assistance to Henderson County residents since 1984.</p>